Tech & Auto
What Toyota’s RAV4 Abbreviation Really Means
By CHRIS LITTLECHILD
There are many abbreviations in the auto world. While some are widely known, others are a little more confusing, such as the case with Toyota’s RAV4.
In a 2019 press release, the company stated that the RAV4 idea was centered around "creating a 'Robust Accurate Vehicle with 4 Wheel Drive.'"
However, Toyota also released a glossary for its various model names and abbreviations. In it, the term instead is defined as a "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD."
Both terms are perfectly in keeping with the nature of an SUV typically designed for those with active lifestyles, large families, and so on.
While both definitions include four-wheel drive in their names, this aspect actually complicates these terms, as not all RAV4s are equipped with the feature by default.